Educational Excellence at PECEC: High Scope Curriculum and Applied Behavior Analysis Approach

1. Welcome to Room C-11 Teacher: Mrs. Davis Classroom Aides: Mrs. Amy, Mrs. Chris, Mrs. Ellen (Mrs. Franklin will sub for Mrs. Ellen Sept-Feb and Mrs. Jessica.

2. Grow NJ Kids PECEC 5 STAR Fabulous GNJK is a quality rating system in the state of New Jersey. PECEC is the first school to achieve a five star rating!

3. High Scope Curriculum • High Scope is a research based curriculum. • The children are actively learning throughout the day. The children have direct hands on experiences with people, objects, ideas and events. We have a wide variety of materials that the children can choose to manipulate as they please. • The classroom is divided into interest areas. We have the block area, art area, sand/water areas, book/writing area, table toy area, house area, music and movement area, science area, and computer area. We follow a consistent daily routine. • Plan-Do-Review allows the children to pursue interest, make plans, follow through on them and reflect on their experiences.

4. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in the Classroom • Applied Behavior Analysis is research based and data driven . ABA is the applied use of behavioral principles to everyday situations with the goal of either increasing or decreasing targeted behaviors. • "Applied" means practice, rather than research or philosophy. "Behavior analysis" may be read as "learning theory," that is, understanding what leads to (or doesn't lead to) new skills. (This is a simplification: ABA is just as much about maintaining and using skills as about learning.) It may seem odd to use the word "behavior" when talking about learning to talk, play, and live as a complex social animal, but to a behaviorist all these can be taught, so long as there are intact brain functions to learn and practice the skills. That is the essence of the recovery hypothesis--for many children, the excesses and deficits of autism result largely from a learning 'blockage,' which can be overcome by intensive teaching.

5. Applied Behavior Analysis Classroom …what does it involve? • ITT ( Discrete Trials) • ABLLS-R (Assessment of Basic Language and Literacy Skills- revised) Probing & Programs • TARGET AREAS for Programs: • * Visual Performance • *Imitation (GMI and Vocal), • *Receptive Language • * Expressive Language (Requesting, labeling and Intraverbals) • Prompts – Physical prompts, partial physical prompts, gestural prompts, positional prompts, verbal prompts, modeling

6. Data Collection • ABC of behavior (Antecedent, Behavior and Consequence) • FBA • Shaping • Chaining – backwards, forward • Motivation/earning • Visuals – Station boards, schedule, PECS • Music Therapy Group

7. Manding/Requesting A large component of our ABA class is teaching students to “mand” or request items. We aim to teach the children that language is valuable and using their words can get them things they want. We base the expectation of each child on their prerequisite skills that they come in with. Once we determine your child’s mand schedule and level, we will share it with you so you can be on the same page as us and help your child increase their language faster. At times, students become upset and this process can invoke some behaviors as a child may try other ways to get what they want (yelling, crying, throwing self to floor, etc.) We are extremely patient and wait until the child does the desired target to get the item. We hope that you will be on board helping your child see that their words (pecs, etc.) will get them the item, not behavior. We don’t want to reinforce negative behaviors by giving in. As a child grows in language, theh expectation will increase. For example, at first, he or she may just need to say the sound of the first letter of juice, then once that is mastered, they may be expected to say the whole word, then it may be “I want Juice,” etc.

8. Process, not product • While we do work with art materials and work on following steps to create those cute art projects at times, please know that we do not do crafts just to do crafts. We understand that you like to see what your child has worked on in class, but not all of our lessons have a “take home” component. • And when there is a take home craft, we stress having the children do their work as independently as possible, following directions. We know that parents do not want to see staff work, they want to see their children’s work. We do aim to use the least invasive prompt to help your child. So you will see the following on the back or bottom of your child’s work: • I – meaning that your child completed the activity Independently • PPP (Partial Physical Prompt) Staff used minimal, but some physical guidance and not just hand over hand to aide your child. • FPP (Full Physical Prompt) Staff used hand over hand prompts for the majority of the activity.

9. Classroom Supports: • Xanadu Consulting, Jillian weekly visits • Case manager: Yvette Houser x1561 • Master Teacher: Anne Donovan • Mrs. Dixon, Special Education Supervisor • Mrs. Hale/ Mrs. Gianetti, Special Education Director • FYI • IEP meetings in the spring for all continuing to be eligible • Re-Evaluation Meetings early spring for those going to Kindergarten next year.

10. School Hours & Attendance • School hours are 9:10 – 3:40 • Children benefit from a consistent routine, so please be on time and have your child attend on a daily basis. It is district policy that after ten consecutive days of being absent, your child will be dropped from the roll. • If you know your child is going to be absent, please call the main office at 609-893-8141 ext. 1500. • Also – please message me as soon as you know your child will be out. It helps with classroom planning if I know a student will be out.

11. C-11’s Daily Routine 9:10 – 9:40 Arrival/Bathrooms, breakfast, open play9:40-10:00 Circle Time 10:00-10:30 Large Group NET 10:30 – 11:00 Bathrooms & Snack Time11:00 – 12:00 ITT, Peer Pairing and Small NET Groups 12:00- 12:15 Story Time/Fine Motor Time 12: 15 – 12:25 Bathrooms & SmartBoard Time 12:25- 1:05 Lunch Time 1:05- 1:45 Outside Time, water and bathrooms 1:55 – 2:55 Nap Time 2:55 – 3:20 Wake up, bathrooms, Open Play 3:20 Dismissal and Open Play

12. Communication Books • Folder goes home everyday • Please take a moment every evening to check your child’s folder for important information, notes and your child’s work • Please send back any important forms as soon as possible. • Daily Notes – Please use to help your child talk about/answer questions about their day • * Fill-ins on daily Note….

13. Items to bring to school • Back pack labeled with child's name. Back pack should NOT have wheels and be big enough to fit a full size school folder inside and your child’s rest time items. • Crib sheet/small blanket for rest time (all items will be sent home on Friday--please send items back on Monday) • Change of clothes including socks, underwear, pants and shirt. All clothing should be labeled and placed in a zip lock bag with child's name on the bag • Lunch or lunch money • Snack PLEASE LABEL ALL ITEMS • * *

14. Breakfast • The school offers breakfast that you can purchase everyday. • (breakfast cost $1.40/Reduced .30) • Children that receive free or reduced lunch will also be provided with a free or reduced breakfast

15. LUNCH • Please enclose any lunch money in an envelope or a ziploc bag with your child’s name. • Your child will have an account with the lunch room and you can pre-pay for lunches in any amount you wish (please send all money in an envelope or baggie with your child’s name on it)—you will receive a receipt of all money sent in. • If you are packing a lunch • Add an ice pack to keep lunch cool • We can heat any lunches if needed in our class

16. Snack • Please send a small, healthy snack every day—you may also send your child’s snacks in bulk and we will keep them in their cubby. • We welcome any snack donations for the class at any time.

17. Other Information • Drop and Go Process • WAP- Contact Karen Tennis ext. 1515 *This is a separate registration • Allergies/Medical Information—see school nurses • Parental Involvement- Join PTO/Volunteer Opportunities. The Next PTO meeting is October 12th! Please join and help out! • Parent Workshop—see Michelle Walker (Two in October), language and literacy) • Survey, not ready today will come home in folders

18. Questions, Comments, Concerns Follow PECEC on Facebook and Twitter: Pemberton Preschool Pandas!!